The Women’s Health Services branch of the Ohio State University Medical Center won the national award for outstanding comprehensive women’s health services of the year.The award, recently presented by the National Association of Professionals in Women’s Health, was given at their annual conference in St. Louis.Julie Amling, director of women’s health services at OSU, said the award demonstrates the success in developing one of the best programs in the country.”The medical center has an outstanding history in providing clinical, research and training programs,” Amling said. “We provide services that cover a wide span of women’s needs.”The center also offers a program for minorities, maternity programs, and a women’s resource line.The center’s Women Coming Together program is designed for minorities and is devoted to gender and cultural sensitivity, Amling said.”We try to bring cultures together and see the similarities and differences regarding health care among each other,” she said. “We are here for the women of Central Ohio regardless of race and age.” The center’s maternity services are considered to have the highest level of expertise in this region, Amling said. The association was particularly impressed by the women’s health team at OSU, she said. Thirty representatives ranging from maternity services to the community outreach departments meet on a monthly basis to plan new programs, she said.The recent launching of the medical center’s women’s resource line has been a success since its introduction in July 1997, Amling said.The resource line helps women navigate the services provided by the center and make appointments for OB/GYN services, mammograms and heart screenings.”They are very friendly, efficient and along with providing a wide range of services, also answer all your concerns and questions,” said Christine Iammarino, a junior majoring in psychology and Spanish.Stephen Loebs, chairman for Health Services Management and Policy Division, believes the award is an extraordinary achievement.”This signals that we are the national achievers in women’s health,” he said.Plans to start a women’s wellness center on campus are well under way, Amling said. It will provide OSU students, staff and faculty with easy access to medical care.